A teacher who left an impression...  / Christy Evans (student)
Ms. Murphy was my 8th grade teacher at St. Finbar. She gave me a book that I still have and read often, "To see the world in a grain of sand". An extraordinary person who I will never forget. I will always remember you.... Christy Close

My Condolences to Debbie  / Verda January (Debbie's work study co-woker )
Debbie,

I was truly saddend to hear about you losing Eileen. I am sorry for the pain you must be going through. I didn't know Eileen personally, but I know if she was with such a wonderful person as you, she was really special.

Love,

Verda January    Close

still missing you  / Sally Friedman (co worker )
Dear Debbie,

It is amazing how a person gets into your fiber. I am thinking of you because I am often thinking of Eileen.  Hope you are doing okay.
I am planning a trip to Ireland, and Eileen had said she would help me when I knew were we were going. So now as I read and plan I miss her.

Also at work, I see her closed door, and just want her to walk out that door. Or I go in her office and think how wrong it is she is not here.  Or I keep expecting her to come by and get some licorish. Or wave her hands to fluff up the air or calm us down.

Just missing you Eileen.

Sally Close

I miss you Murphy  / Joanne Donohue (co-worker)
Eileen never ceased to amaze me with her wit, intelligence, warmth and smile.  She was the kind of person who would listen patiently at meetings and then be the one who would say something brilliant in response to what she had heard.  She was a wonderful story teller-able to recall the funny details and make us laugh.  Being a fellow book lover, I am just getting around to reading Bill Bryson's Walk in the Woods-a book that Eileen turned me onto.   Eileen and I had many conversations about our favorite national parks.  She was fond of getting her National Park passport stamped whenever she and Debbie went vacationing. Eileen combined incredible competence and intelligence with warmth and compassion.  I think of her every day. Close

Csae Manager-SWAA  / Mary Yaple (Sr. I&A connections )
My condolences to you Debbie, and to all Eileen's family - I met Eileen through working with SSOS and the I&A programs.  We shared a slight connection as I grew up "over the mountain" from Anaconda.  I lived in the Bitterroot Valley.  I have always admired Eileen's wisdom, emphathy and exhuberance on what ever task she took on.  She was a role model for many.  She will be missed by many and especially by her family.   She is in good hands though and we will see her again someday.  Close

In gratitude for your life...  / Teresa (Terry) McCorkle (colleague, former Sr. Services staff member )
Thank you for all the loving contributions that you made to this world during your lifetime. You are greatly missed. Blessings to you and I know that your presence is still with us. Close

Once every generation  / Linda Wells (Colleague)
Eileen, I miss you.  Your wisdom, competence, your warm and laughing eyes, and most of all the peace that you carried with you wherever you went.  I don't believe I'll meet someone like you again in this lifetime.  Thank you for the inspiration and the trail-blazing you provided.  The world is better because of you. Close

thanks, Eileen!  / Chris Kidwell (former colleague )
I was so saddened to read of Eileen's passing! I worked as an advocate for Eileen at Senior Services from 1988 to 1995. She taught me a lot about service, assessment, and "the big picture". She urged us to gently "dig deeper" to discover what a caller's request was really about, often not the issue they had originally presented. I fondly remember Friday morning "staff meetings" at Soundview Cafe where Eileen got us all hooked on a yummy fried potato dish. She was such an accessible person! When she was comfortable, she could tell the most wicked jokes (and had a wicked little laugh to go with them!). She had a knack for making us all feel like an important part of the team, and getting us all to consensus (not an easy task with seven different personalities crammed into a tiny cubicle!). To this day, I am thoroughly dedicated to the value of teamwork, and consistently seek out the input and counsel of my team members...all learned from Eileen. I didn't realize how much she had influenced me until now. Debbie, my heart goes out to you. Please know many, many lives were touched and improved because Eileen was here. Close

proud to be her cousin  / Ree Stevenson (Cousin)
My thoughts are with the Murphy families and Debbie and her family.   I have many wonderful memories of Eileen.  As children we would enjoy family picnics at Washoe Park, floating on Warm Springs Creek, marathon monopoly games, Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup and laughing until our faces would hurt.   Eileen came a long way since our childhood days and the world is a better place because she has shared her wisdom, humor and talents.  I am proud to be a member of her extended family.  Til we meet again.  Close

It only took her smile...  / Victor Obeso (former co-worker )
My deepest condolences go out to Debbie and the Murphy and Crumb families at this time of grief and remembrance of Eileen and all she meant to us.  It seems we always lose the best far too soon, and Eileen was certainly the best.  My years at Senior Services are filled with memories of laughs and lessons shared with Eileen, who was a wonderful leader and friend.  She possessed a vibrancy of spirit that was contagious, a wit that was finely honed yet stored beneath a soft sheath, and a humbleness that belied her skills and knowledge.  Though we did not socialize actively in the years after I left Senior Services, when we encountered one another it was always a joy.  It only took her smile and a wave down at me from her and Debbie's seats up in Key Arena at a Storm game to know our connections remain in place always. Close

More stories of missing Eileen  / Sally Friedman (Co Worker )
How many times can you pay tribute? I keep having so many thoughts of how I am missing Eileen. I miss Eileen always stopping by for red vines while she helped mold my creative energy. She really helped me grow at Senior Services. When I first interviewed with Senior Services over 20 years ago, I didn't get hired, but I had a wonderful time in the interview. Margaret and Eileen realized I needed to learn more. What I remember is laughing during the whole interview and wanting to come back and work for Senior Services. So when I was hired, I knew that Eileen had good taste. She always made me feel like I was doing good work and I am going to miss her support very much. That is one of the things Eileen was good at; picking good people to work in our programs. There are not many people who can say "yes" to so many of my requests for things I wanted to do and also able to say "no" too. I remember telling her I never wanted to be a supervisor because I wouldn't want someone like me always asking for things. She did say there are harder things to deal with. Eileen always helped me channel my energy and supported the groups I wanted to be involved in by helping me channel the work to relate to our programs. She had the vision, with others, to create the best Information and Asssitance program and the best Caregiver out reach program in the country. (I am biased, but I do think we really are the best.) She hired a great staff for the caregiver program and with her guidance we have grown to be an incredible support to people. She had a vision and picked good people and let us be creative with her guidance. She has been a leader that brought out the leadership of other people. She was able to see the big picture and we have grown because of her heart and vision. It is hard to imagine her not being here and yet I know that what she has taught me I will continue to use and grow because of her spirit. I am thinking of you, Debbie, and others in Eileen family and all of Eileens friends. My heart is with you. Thank you Debbie for having this web site so we can share and read others stories and tributes to Eileen. Close

Thinking of you  / Jinny Wesson (Friend of Debbie )
Debbie:

I know how much you will miss her.  I think of you everyday and send my prayers to all.

Jinny (Debbie's co-worker @RTC) Close

Sorry for your loss  / Andrea Abrahamson (work colleague )

Eileen always was full of cheerful smiles, and just great to work with. I was surprised and saddened by the news of her passing. My sincere condolences to her family and loved ones. Andrea

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Such a fine, fine person  / Sue Tomita (colleague)
Since the 1980's, Eileen and I worked together on many projects related to senior care and also elder mistreatment.  We attended countless meetings and talked about many subjects.  So important to her were you and family, and she often told me about her recent as well as up-coming trips.  She was always so full of joy and anticipation, and I got the distinct impression that she understood that what she had-- you and her family and friends and work and travel and reading--were all so, so precious and to be enjoyed now. Your photo album reflects that approach to life.  Her intelligence combined with kindness resulted in very fine work, appreciated by so many.  I will miss her tremendously.  What a huge and sudden loss for you, Debbie.  Thinking of you, sending you comfort. Close

So sorry for your loss  / Laura Staley (Friend/co-worker of Debbie )
Debbie - 

I'm so sorry for your loss.  I know how much you loved Eileen by how much your face lit up when you talked about her.  My thoughts are with you, 

Laura Close

Eileen was an amazing woman, and is truly missed  / Elizabeth McConville Kim (former co-worker )
To Debbie and Family,
I feel so lucky to have worked with Eileen as one of the advocates. I have so many great memories of just bursting with laughter when she told stories of her life and adventures. I even bought a National Parks Stamp book because of her and her obsession with the stamps. There was never a dull moment. She also was a true advocate for all that she worked with and cared about. I always knew that I could go to her and she would be there to listen, without judgement and do all in her power to provide any assistance she could. She always lived life to the fullest and it was obvious that she was such a happy person and she brought so much joy to every life that she touched. And may we all strive to follow in her footsteps. Close

I will miss you Eileen  / Nichole Williams Formerly Johnson (previous co-worker )

To the family and friends of Eileen,
My heart goes out to you at your time of loss.  I am in shock that Eileen has passed on.  She was an inspiration to me both professionally and personally.  I will always remember her great sense of humor and smile.  She made my year and a half at Senior I&A both fun and a wonderful learning experience for me.  And to those at I&A, Margaret, Terra, Sally, John, Daria, Lisa, Toni-I know this must be an enormous loss for all of you as well.  You are all in my thoughts...May you have a sense of peace knowing that Eileen is watching over you all...My thoughts, Nichole Williams (formerly Johnson)

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The light is dimmer  / Nancy Dapper (Work Colleague )

Like so many others, I just can't get my mind around the idea that Eileen will no longer be with us.  My great gift is that I got to attend a compassionate listening class with Eileen and was lucky enough to be in a small group with her.  I don't know how much listening we did but I know I laughed a lot.  I always knew Eileen to be smart, caring, compassionate, and patient.  What I learned in this class is that she also had a wicked sense of humor.  I toast dear colleague.  The seniors of Seattle-King County will surely notice your absence. 

Debbie, we have never met.  I send my condolences to you.  I don't know how you can get up in the morning.  But, I also know that Eileen would want you to be strong and keep moving.

Nancy Dapper
Executive Director
Alzheimer's Association 
and
Board of Directors
Senior Services

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To Debbie  / Sandy Stevens-Theizen
Debbie,
What a shock to open up my email and hear the terrible news.  My heart goes out to you at this very difficult time. I never had the chance to meet Eileen, but from knowing you, I know that she was a very special person. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers...
Sincerely,
Sandy Stevens-Theizen Close

Thinking of you, Debbie  / Corinne Taylor ((Friend/co-worker w/Debbie) )
Debbie and Family,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  I wish I had the opportunity to meet Eileen, however I know if you loved her - she must have been GREAT!

Please know I'm thinking of you...

Love,
Corinne
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